CHORLEY Council has been granted an extra £150,000 to spend on its housing stock.

Earlier this year the council claimed it had not had a fair share of the national payout, after the government's annual Housing Investment Programme allocation was announced.

No extra capital investment has been given, but the council has been exempt for the coming year from the standing rent rebate subsidy limitation.

The extra cash was released following a meeting between councillors and officials and Parliamentary Under Secretary of State Chris Mullin.

The delegation was led by council leader John Wilson.

He said: "Under the government's rules, we were only being allowed to claim subsidy on about two thirds of this year's rent increase in relation to benefit claimants.

"Now, thanks to our lobbying, we will receive subsidy on the full increase -- hence the extra £150,000."